Has anyone had pleurisy or pleuritic chest pain? I've been having it on and off, diagnosed myself with pleurisy based on my symptoms and my doctor agrees with me.

What do you do about it? I'm on prednisone now, hoping that will help. Anti-inflammatories and Vicodin are not touching it for me :(.... Occasionally it gives me shortness of breath but mostly I am at my wit's end with the pain.

I have had it one time.. it lasted about 6 weeks... it was awful.... I had not been DX with Lupus yet.. just took Motrin and a lot of it... and used the heating pad.. I sure hope yours will subside soon....

I've had pleurisy for almost a year! I can't get below 5mg on Pred, actually should bump it back to 7.5 and the highest dose of 20mg. My heating pad and pain pills have helped a lot too. I hope you get some relief soon.

I have had it on and off for about 8 or 9 months now... It's just recently been more constant and more painful. I will try the heating pad. Vicodin is helping now, but I have to take more than I like to in order to get relief. My primary would like me to take more Vicodin and deal with less pain, but I am only 21 years old and I don't want to become dependent on opiates.... ugh. I do sometimes use <snip>

Thanks for the replies! I guess this is pretty common with lupus? I don't have a diagnosis, but each new symptom I get is associated with lupus. Last time I saw my rheumy he said if I developed the skin rash or a positive ANA, he would diagnose. I got pleurisy instead :/.I would like to have a diagnosis and an answer to "what is wrong with me?" but then again, I don't want any more new symptoms!

Kathryn

I edited this because people will tend to discuss this more than you meant it to be discussed. It also vilates Rule #2 on the forum rules